Darin Shapiro Elected To AWSEF Hall Of Fame!!

The American Water Ski Educational Foundation’s 10-member Hall of Fame Selection Committee has announced that former wakeboard athlete Darin Shapiro of Orlando, Fla., will be the 2010 AWSEF Water Ski Hall of Fame inductee. The 28th annual induction ceremony will take place April 10 at the Lakeland Center in Lakeland, Fla. Shapiro will be the first wakeboard athlete to be inducted into the AWSEF Hall of Fame.

Darin ShapiroShapiro, 36, retired from competition in 2004 as the winningest rider in the history of the sport. He was a six-time Pro Wakeboard Tour champion, four-time world champion, four-time Masters’ champion, three-time X Games champion, three-time Big Air champion, three-time Wakestock champion, and a gold, silver and bronze medalist at the Gravity Games.

Shapiro, who currently owns and operates Ride The Spot wakeboard camp in Orlando, was known for charging the wake harder than any other wakeboard athlete. He invented tricks called the Speed Ball, Orbital and Orbital 540, but was most well known for his S-bends, Vulcans, Front Flip to Blind and Tantrum to Blind. He is believed to be the only wakeboard athlete to ever land a double front flip off the double-up on the Pro Wakeboard Tour.

The 2010 Award of Distinction recipients will be announced at a later time.

The purpose of the Water Ski Hall of Fame is to honor and perpetuate the names and accomplishments of skiers, pioneers and officials whose dedication and competitive achievements at national and international levels have brought lasting fame to the sport of water skiing. Four categories of membership have been approved by the American Water Ski Educational Foundation’s board of trustees: Competitive water skiers, including participants in traditional water skiing, barefoot skiing, ski racing and any other nationally competitive individual discipline recognized by the USA Water Ski and approved by the AWSEF board of trustees; water skiing pioneers; water skiing officials; and show skiing.

For eligibility requirements and more information, visit the official Web site of the American Water Ski Educational Foundation at www.waterskihalloffame.com.